Iranian Security Forces Crack Down on Ahwaz Street Vendors to Suppress the Poor and Whitewash City’s Image Before New Year
On Thursday and Friday, March 6 and 7, 2025, Iranian occupation security forces launched a violent crackdown on street vendors in Naderi Street, Ahwaz capital, targeting Arab vendors who rely on informal trade to survive. Despite having paid fees to the municipality to set up their stalls, the vendors faced brutal attacks from law enforcement. Armed forces fired live ammunition, destroyed stalls, and confiscated goods, leaving many vendors without a source of income. At least three vendors were injured by direct gunfire, and four were arrested. The identities of those wounded and detained remain unknown.
This aggressive crackdown is part of a broader strategy by Iranian regime to further impoverish and suppress the Ahwazi people. By dismantling their means of livelihood, the regime seeks to deepen economic hardship among the already marginalised Ahwazi people, ensuring they remain dependent and politically subdued.
Additionally, with the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) approaching, authorities are eager to present occupied Ahwaz as a stable and secure city. The regime aims to remove any visible signs of economic struggle and discontent before the arrival of visitors, creating an illusion of order while concealing the deep-seated oppression faced by the local Arab population.
The Ahwazi Centre for Human rights condemn the violent actions of Iranian occupation security forces, calling for transparency regarding the fate of those arrested and accountability for the excessive use of force against unarmed civilians.
videos documenting the Iranian crimes against Ahwazi vendors:
Ahwazi Centre for Human rights
09 March 2025
